It’s still two days until Christmas but Premier Doug Ford is already getting into the spirit.
In a video posted on social media on Monday morning, Ford is seen dressed up in a bright red Santa suit performing a personalized rendition of the famous 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”
As we look ahead to another new year, here’s what we’re working on to bring you good cheer!
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) December 23, 2024
Merry Christmas to all, and with a new year in sight, merry Christmas, Ontario and to all a good night. 🎄 pic.twitter.com/7CklcoGWKQ
The video begins with the iconic “Twas the night before Christmas…” but then veers from the usual script to focus on Ford’s hopes for the coming year.
“Our province stood tall, with visions of progress uniting us all,” Ford says in the video. " As we look ahead to another New Year, here’s what we’re working on to bring you good cheer.”
The two-minute video features a number of Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers writing letters to Santa and dropping them off in a mail slot outside Ford’s office.
Ford is then seen reading the letters beside a lit up Christmas tree, all while dressed up as Santa Claus.
“Dear Santa, Ontarians are stuck in traffic, losing time each day with crowded roads and endless jams, it shouldn’t be this way” Transportation Minister Prabmeet Singh says in the video. “So, this year, I’m wishing big. Let gridlock disappear and bring joy to everyone this coming new year.”
Next, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce wishes for expansion of nuclear power generation and “more electrification far and near.”
“Ontario’s bright with nuclear power that’s clean, with more power plants soon to be seen,” Lecce rhymes.
Economic Development Minister Victor Fedeli, Labour Minister David Paccini and Health Minister Sylvia Jones are all seen making similar Christmas wishes. Their wishes include jobs and investments, electric vehicle manufacturing, skilled trade and expanding healthcare.
Meanwhile, Ford, as Santa, is seen ticking it off his list of wishes to grant.
Ford has made a tradition out of releasing a pre-Christmas video since first being elected. Last year he released a video in which he assembled a gingerbread house in a symbolic nod to his desire to ramp up the construction of housing in the province. The year before that it was Christmas cookies.
The end of the video shows Ford, as Santa, thanking the people of Ontario for their trust and support, and promising to build a strong future together.
He ends it by saying “Merry Christmas to all with the new year in sight. Merry Christmas, Ontario, and to all a good night.”